Protective switch for electric flat-irons.



s SHAPIRO. PROTECTIVE SWITCH FOKELECTRI C FLAT IRONS- APPLICATION FILED SEPT- ll, I9l7- 1,280,564. I y Patiented Oct. 1,1913.

INVENTOR Samuel Berg 22min Sfiam'm,

Arronuav the following is a specification.-.

- the like.

To'all m ma may a, m:

- Be it known that LSAMUELZBENJMHN SHAPIRQ, a citizen ofthe-United- States,-re-' and useful Improvements in Protective Switches for Electric" Flat-Irons, ot which 1 This; invention relates to improvements protective-devices for electric; flatirons and .the, use bf electric flat irons has quently occurs that the operator fails to turn E the current when the iron isnot in use,

Jsibly urning out "the heating unit'of the thereb causing wastage of energy, andpos iron or setting fire to adjacent objects. It

is the purpose ofithe present invention to furnish 'anautomatic switch which will cut ofi the current when the handle of the iron or other device is released by the operator.

I .such construction that sparks or heated'par' I ticlesofmetal which may fall from the eontact pointswill he efiectually confined with- Another object is to provide a switch of in the switch-cavity.- An improved construction by which the manufactureof the switch simplified, the durability increased, and tliejpractical utility of the-device'amplified, constitutes a further object of'the-invention.

One for of the inventlon lsdescribedin i the specification below-Land illustrated; in

asi Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal the accompanying drawin section, through an'electrictflat iron handle constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 shows a transverse section through i the handle on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

' Fig. 3 is a detailed perspective view of .the switch housing.-

In the drawings-the handle 1 of a flat iron is shown as secured to the usual connectingmembers 2 extending downwardly for attachment to the iron proper. The'handle 1 is formed in one side intermediately of-its ends with a recess 3 ofsuitable shape and dimensions'for containing the switch comrised in the present invention; 'The switch has a housing 5 formed in the outer side .with a longitudinal slot 6, and is preferably rectangular in cross-section. Projecting lugs 7 on the housing are formed with openings 8 for passage of securmg means shown Specification of- Letters Patent.

rarest canton;

.. snntnnn BENJAMINSHAPIBO, or" iwnwnunen, NEW-YORK.

rno'rnorrvnswrron non anaemic star-Incas.

-Patented0ct. 1,1-918.

' Application filed September 11, 1917, Serial No. 190,840.

, resistant material such as fiber, butv it may obviously be of metal, in which case suitable insulation is provided for each contact. Conductors 12 are, attached to the contacts 20 and connected in circuit with the heating unit of the iron-so that thefiow ofcurrent through'the latter will be interrupted when thecontacts are separated. ,A's hereshown a portion of each contact is prolonged through a suitable opening in the housing into a passage 14 through which the conductors 12. are led. The portions of the contacts which engage against each other may be tipped with plat num or similar non-corrosive metal. o, A I For causing the contacts to establish connection when the handle :is grasped, an elongated element 15 is movably mounted in and pro ects a suitable distance from the slot 6,

and. has flanges 16 and17 overlying respectively the inner and outer portions of the .housing adjacent the slot, and limiting the movement of the element 15. The portion' of the element comprising the flanges 17 inay '90 be separately formed and secured to the main portion by screws 20. In order to pre- 1 vent escape of sparks or hot particles of metal from the cavity of the housing, the element 15 is closely fitted to the slot, and it abuts against the end walls of the recess 3, while the flange 16 extends in proximity to the vertical walls of the housing adjacent the slot, or those walls perpendicular to that in which the slot is located. For the-same 160 purpose, the flange 17 overlies the handle at either end of the recess 3. Suitable compression springs 18 may be properly mounted within and attached to the housing, bearing against the element 15 to maintain it in the outward position when the iron is not in use. v o

It will be understood that the openings 8 are so located as to permit ready access to the screws 9. By removing the latter and "10 so A.

removed bya longitudinal sliding movement to permit access to the interior of the switch. It will be noted that by the peculiar construction provided, the interior of the switch is very effectively sealed to prevent escape of sparks, while the simplicity of the structure is calculated to reduce manufacturing costs and add to the reliability of the device. While the form of the invention shown and described is considered preferable, it is not to be interpreted as limiting the invention, as the right is reserved to variation within the scope of the claims. The invention is obviously not limited in application to electric irons, but has a field of usefulness covering numerous branches, of the electrio art.

What is claimed is 1. In a switch for electric devices, a housing comprising a tube of rectangular crosssection formed in one side with a longitudinal slot, contacts within said housing, an longated element mounted in said slot for movement to close said contacts, inner flanges on said element overlying the portions of the housing adjacent the slot and extending in proximity to the adjacent vertical walls of the housing, and outer flanges on said element overlying the portions of the housing adjacent the slot.

2. In a switch for electric devices, a handle formed in the side with a recess, a tubular housing seated in said recess, said housing formed with a longitudinal slot, means for detachably securing said housing in the recess, contacts within said housing, an elongated element mounted in said slot for move ment to close said contacts, and flanges on said element overlying the portions of said housing adjacent said slot and limiting the inward and outward movement of said element, the ends of said element adapted for abutting against the end walls of the recess whereby longitudinal displacement of said element is prevented when the housing is in position in the recess.

3. In a switch for electric devices, a handle formed in the side with a recess, a tubular housing of rectangular cross section seated in said recess, said housing formed with a longitudinal slot, means for detachably securing said housing in the recess, contacts within said housing, an elongated element mounted in said slot for movement to close said contacts, inner flanges on said element overlying the portions of the ho sing adja-' cent the slot and extending in proximity to the adjacent vertical Walls of the housing, outer flanges on said element overlying the portions of said housing adjacent the slot,

and extensions ofthe outer flanges overly-' ing the handle adjacent the ends of the recess, the ends of said element adapted for abutting against the end walls of the recess whereby longitudinal displacement of said element is prevented when the housing is in position in. the recess.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

SAMUEL BENJAMIN SHAPIRO. 

